Roof and side wall connection for railway cars and similar vehicles



2,514,122 AILWAY July 4, 1950 A. cs. DEAN ROOF AND SIDE WALL CONNECTION FOR R CARS AND SIMILAR VEHICLES Filed Oct. 24, 1947 INVENTOR *Qlberi CI. Dean lax/M1- 611% A TTORNE Y Patented July 4, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROOF AND SIDE WALL CONNECTION FOR RAILWAY CARS AND SIMILAR VEHICLES Albert G. Dean, Narberth, Pa., assignor to The Budd Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 24, 1947, Serial No. 782,004

8 Claims. 1

The invention relates to a connection between the lateral margins of a roof and the upper margins of the side walls of railway cars and similar vehicle bodies. More specifically, the invention relates to a reinforcement of side wall and roof in the regions where the two meet.

The outstanding objects of the invention are a side wall and roof construction for railway cars and similar vehicles which is light in weight and simpler in construction than corresponding previous designs while giving ample strength to the trusswork represented by the vehicle body in its entirety.

With the above objects in view, the invention provides a shear panel in the region where roof and side walls meet, which shear panel reinforces the margins of the roof sheathing, constitutes part of the connecting means between roof and side wall, interconnects the upper ends ment illustrated in the attached drawing and de;

scribed hereinafter.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a small-scale side elevation of a railway car;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the roof in the region of one of the side door openings;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional inside perspective of the connecting zone'between roof and one side wall, the section being taken along line 33 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section along line 4-4 of Figure 2 on the scale of Figure 3.

The illustrated body has side walls S and a roof R. Windows W and doors D are provided in the body sides. While the drawing shows and the following description refers mostly to the construction on one side ofv the body, there are, of course, two side walls and longitudinal roof margins which may have substantially the same construction. a

The illustrated side wall structure comprises longitudinally spaced vertical posts Ill in the form of U- or Z-sections. One of suchposts is arranged along each vertical margin of the door and window openings. Adjoining posts are con' nected between successive door and window openings by shear panels II and they are interconnected between the door openings by profiles |2 extending from post to post and secured with them. Along the upper margins of the window openings, between such window openings and between the window openings and the door openings, the posts are, furthermore, interconnected on their insides by a chord member in the form of a sheet metal profile l3.

If the side wall is pre-assembled as a sub-unit before its connection to the roof, the upper ends I4 of the posts project freely above the upper margins of the panels profiles l2 and chord member l3. A gusset plate l5 at the inside. of the upper end of each or most of the posts may conistitute part of the side wall sub-assembly uni The roof R comprises longitudinally spaced and transversely arched carlines 6, the ends of which fit telescopingly and are secured in a U-section marginal chord member H, which member preferably extends over the entire length of the car and is arranged at the height of the top margins of the door openings. The carlines have longitudinally extending inner and outer flanges l8 and I9 which serve for the aforesaid securement to the walls of the channel section H. The outer arm I8 of each carline I6 is attached to the inside of longitudinally corrugated roof sheathing 20 extending over the entire length of the car forming with the other roof elements a deep transversely arched truss. The roof sheathing 20 is also secured to the outside wall of the chord member l1. 1

An extension 2| of the roof sheathing projects downwardly beyond the member H. The lower marginal portion of the extension 2| i reinforced and stiffened by a fiat web 22 in the form of a narrow elongated strip extending uninterruptedly in longitudinal direction between consecutive door openings or between a door opening and the end of the car. This strip 22 projects downwardly beyond the lower margin of the roof sheathing extension 2| and is formed at its lower margin into an upwardly facing channel 23. The channel portions 23 not ending at an end wall are provided with drain holes 23, between window openings or at other unobjectionable places. The web is secured to the bottoms of the corrugations of the roof extension 2| preferably by electric spot welding.

At the location of each or most of the carlines a gusset :plate 24 is interposed between and secured to the outer arms l8, carlines I6, and the 3 roof sheathing 20. Gusset 24 extends, furthermore, between the chord member I1 and the roof sheathing and overlaps part of the inside surface of the web 22 to which it is likewise secured, preferably by electric spot welding.

Above the door openings the extension 2! of the roof sheathing and the reinforcing web 22 with its channel 23- are cut out. In these regions the roof sheathing above the chord member H is reinforced by a web or panel 25 overlapping with its projecting marginal H portion the outside wall of the chord memberlland' having an outwardly directed flange 26 secured-to an angle member 21 which, togetherrwiththe flange and the margin of the panel-5, forms anaminterrupted continuation of the channel 23. In addition, the structure around the,upper pontion of the door opening is reinforced by membersZt.

If the roof is pre-assembled as a subeunit 'be fore its connection to; the side walls, then such {sun-unit :zcomprises the .@described -l carlines i 8, :nhord-r members l l, roof sheathing gil wither:- iten'sions zipvwebsgfifl with channels; gnwebs ifi .iwithanchannels,26,22, gussets 24,1 and reinforcesamentsdB.

' :In:.final;assembly,; the: roofi ovei'laps inith its adownward:lextensions 2 2i nits 'MWBIOS Z2; and 7 the slower: portions of: its: gussets; 24,;the outsides of -;:the supper endszoi: the side wall; posts 4;,and of the margins of the sheargpanels il and longiiitudinalmrofiles; i2. On' the:otherxhandath p- 1iwardlygjproiecting. porticnsmfi the; gussets ,1 5.1 011 --the side :wall; posts; overlap; theeinsides 9f" the :ca'rlines l9. :Along all zzthezregionseof averlap, theixtwo units :are connected ,with. eachl-z'other, again: preferablyby means aof electricwspot Weldhing. .i-Fuzither; angle ;.-bra'ckets, ::not shown, ;-.:may connect the transverse webs of the sidezswall aposts .l A; tomthe wbottom walls-bf, the .channel secetion roofchordmeinbersa ll.

:The webs 22-:and 25;not:onlyureinforceiithe lower margim-ofithe roof: extension but geconstitute also effective connecting elements tbetween i the :roof: and: side :walls and; Linladditiomlpnesent r drain-pipes :to keep-rain water-awaydromlqthe door aridawindowcopenings. J: ln lthencompleted carstm1cture, the webs 2 Ziare' :locatednoppcsite theqcu-"ofiles -l3-of the side :walls,.mesultingerin a balanced construction;: these elements ,1 together with the profiles l 2," resulting, furthermore; in

1ongitudinal=-beams of aconsiderable strength.

Allamembers of the illustratedmenstruation are formed of sheet metal, preferably-l ofsthe-high- ---ten-si le :variety, for instance, of :1 cold+worked austenitic stainless steel. tions between the 1 diiierent members: are ipreferably madebymeans of electric spotiwelds which at many placesinthedrawing are shownl in conventional marmer.

The' disclosed constructionhasagreat strength,--

is simple and of relatively light:--wei'ght. Also, the assembly of the parts into the' :roofi-andsside wall units as well as the connectienaof thelunits '--with each other is -easy-andconvenientxomac- -=count =of theaccessibility =of the -points:&of1-:con-

* nection.

While one embodiment of the invention is' disclosed; it should be understood that modifications and adaptations will easily-occur to those skilled --in the art,- and that protection is sought: for the'fiin ventionas covered by the danguage and the spirit of the attached claims. i

''What is claimed is:

1F=In a 'roof for railway cars: and similarave: *hicles, longitudinally spaced and transversely Most oi :-the lconnec-c 4 arched carllnes interconnected by a sheet metal roof sheathing and by marginal rails, said roof sheathing extending downwardly beyond the carlines and said marginal rails to form part of 5 final assembly means with the adjoining upper marginal portions of the body side walls, the .lower margin of the downwardly projecting portionsgofthe roof sheathing being reinforced on each side of the car by a continuous vertical web secured to the inner surface of the sheathing and projecting downwardly therebeyond, the "downwardly projecting portions of said web be- -ing-stifiened-bydts formation into an upwardly -iacing, hannel adapted for the reception and l5egdisposal-.,lofiwater from the roof.

52 .111,; 9.; roof-jar railway cars and similar vehicles, longitudinally spaced and transversely arched carlines -interconnected by a longi- .=tudir,1ally corrugated sheet metal roof sheathing and by marginal rails, said roof sheathing exltendina d w w r rb yon t e canine an said marginal -rails t .to; form part of jfinal ,assembly m ans withgt a o n n sup er, a ina ps v, tions ofv the-{body side walls, .the downwardly pro- -jecting portionspfthe roof sheathing being reinforced on each :,side ,of ,the oari below said marginal rail, iby a Vcontinuous vertical .Web secured toutheinnerisurfaceflof the sheathing and projecting downwardly.therebeyond, the downafl-iw r lymmiecfias ,,1; 0 .T- Q o9 ,said we ebbi t ne y-itsimination, intdan u ward y. Ea

; ing channel.

3. In a body structure for railway pars and similar reh cl side wau ltruss si compr -l nsitud na1 y s aced r ic e ts, ,arop l ru eh ins a eitud nal pace tran v rs le tending; arched carlines-flining .up with atileast n-c rta-i epfilsa nost m l nsi d nally exten i raii c zc che sidaof. thabo y zwhsr th r rlin and th -lpostslrme e on tudina lc l ru at ro sheat nn cte wi lthe; car inesl nthemare n ilsan e a n .nortionanrpiecti adew rd y-lbeyon lith ni es-l a d th ra esa nporlt c i 9 2 th sheath n 1 :beip s rerleppingly connected to the outsides of the upper gnds 20 th r rost neusse r t nterrosc bet :itti rl m he ie-i nditsdonn rd exten ip genuin :cn uha van ith u e -.--rn.s end-t .suncerend wf carlinesland o stsrespe tire rr the other hand, further gussets, extending; across said rails and overlappingly lsecured to the insi eeofetb ,carli esaa post a on udi y extending plane web on each sidef of the; roof arranecdiati e stanc ehelowlt e espective ail ssaandiss rc to the er-lmageinallrea p ott downwardly projecting portion of thea pmygated =.-roof .isheathinssa eals escqure .t th ou 11 th s as h t f rm wit ac -roots nitensionlandlsaid ra l renaup errhcr ans her for the side wa ltrnss and-lanother Imagizltud na x wehlsecure it t. ins z' Qr-PQ at about shs sh saidifir enams web -24. ilneanb dyzp a -wa ar aan is milar ve of the sidewalls lon itudin l y spac and tra zwerselx-zarched- -m canines: n rconn c d by i.sheet-.metal r oishe andbyl-mars na ge s,

yoncatheeeaninesua .ea lmer iaa rai -tea ing part of final assembly means with,thea dj qin- -:ingrzupperz;mar i al?mitio eo th ody side s; Madm n-mar inal [th dow ward yip iecti zno t pnsiof h wmotsheathing be narei domed -,-c ieachi;z ide;ofi the, sac b lai c ntinup erticarzweblisccurs e o thermnerasu tacei of the sheathing and projecting downwardly therebeyond, the downwardly projecting portions of said web being stiffened by its formation into an upwardly facing channel which may simultaneously serve for the reception and disposal of water from the roof, said door opening extending upwardly to a point above the lower margin of the adjoining roof extension and its reinforcing web, a continuation of said web and of the channel formed along its lower margin extending around the upper portion of the door opening.

5. A body for railway cars and similar vehicles comprising a preassembled side wall unit and a preassembled roof unit connected with each other in final assembly; said side wall unit having a plurality of longitudinally spaced posts and means longitudinally interconnecting said posts, said means terminating at a distance below the upper ends of said posts so that end portions of the posts project upwardly beyond said means; said roof unit having longitudinally spaced carlines, a side rail connecting the ends of the carlines and roof sheathing covering and connected with said carlines and rail and provided with a marginal portion extending downwardly beyond said rail; said downwardly extending portion of said roof unit being secured in final assembly to the outside of said end portions of the posts above the means of the side wall unit interconnecting said posts and said downwardly extending portion having its lower margin connected to the upper margin of said means; and gusset plates overlappingly connected on the inside to the upper ends of said posts and to said roof rail.

6. A body for railway cars and similar vehicles comprising a pair of preassembled side wall units and a preassembled roof unit connected with each other in final assembly; each of said side wall units having a plurality of longitudinally spaced posts and means longitudinally interconnecting said posts, said means terminating in a chord structure arranged at a distance below the upper ends of said posts so that end portions of the posts project upwardly beyond said chord structure; said roof unit having longitudinally spaced carlines, side rails connecting the ends of the carlines and roof sheathing covering and connected with said carlines and rails and provided with marginal portions projecting downwardly beyond said rails; said downwardly projecting portions of said roof sheathing being secured in final assembly to the outsides of said end portions of the posts projecting beyond said upper chord structures of the side wall units and having their lower margins connected to said chord structures; and means extending on the inside across the space between said posts and said rails and being overlappingly secured to both.

7. A body for railway cars and similar vehicles comprising a pair of preassembled side wall units and a preassembled roof unit connected with each other in final assembly; each of said side wall units having a plurality of longitudinally spaced posts and means longitudinally interconnecting said posts, said means terminating in a chord structure arranged at a distance below the upper ends of said posts so that end portions of the posts project upwardly beyond said means, said side wall units having furthermore gusset plates secured to the insides of the posts and projecting upwardly beyond the ends thereof; said roof unit having longitudinally spaced carlines and side rails of upwardly facing channel shap telescopingly fitted over and connected to the ends of the carlines, said roof unit having furthermore a roof sheathing covering and connected with said carlines and rails and provided with marginal portions extending downwardly beyond said rails; said downwardly extending portions of said roof unit being secured in final assembly of roof and side wall units to the outsides of said end portions of the posts and having their lower margins connected to said chord structures, and said gusset plates extending across the space between said posts and said rails and being overlappingly secured in final assembly to the inner walls of said rails.

8. In .a body for railway cars and similar vehicles, side wall trusses and a roof truss, said side wall trusses comprising longitudinally spaced vertical posts longitudinally interconnected by chord structures arranged at a distance below the upper ends of the posts, said roof truss comprising longitudinally spaced transversely extending arched carlines and a longitudinally corrugated roof sheathing connected with the carlines and terminating at a distance above said chord structures of the side wall trusses, a longitudinally extending rail on each side of the body between the ends of carlines and posts, a continuous longitudinally extending plane Web on each side of the body having its upper marginal portion overlapped by and secured to the roof sheathing, being extended downwardly beyond the roof sheathing and having its lower marginal portion connected to the said chord structure of the respective side wall truss.

ALBERT G. DEAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,995,532 Blest et al.' Mar. 26, 1935 2,185,977 Dean Jan. 2, 1940 2,249,703 Dean July 15, 1941 2,250,523 Christiansen et a1. July 29, 1941 2,266,722 Dean Dec. 16, 1941 2,267,702 Dean et al Dec. 23, 1941 2,407,523 Willoughby Sept. 10, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 22,095 Great Britain Oct. 6, 1906 of 1906 486,121 Germany Nov. 12, 1929 

